CEBU CITY – No fireworks. No trash talk. Love and respect. You might think you were in church meeting but it was all businesslike for both Milan Melindo and Hekkie Budler when they finally met face to face during the final press conference held at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino here Thursday afternoon ahead of their IBF world junior flyweight championship on the main event of 'Pinoy Pride 42: Clash for Glory' on Saturday.

Both of them though, realized the importance of this fight which could make or break the future of their careers.

“I consider this fight as the biggest fight of my career,” Budler, from South Africa and the current IBO junior flyweight beltholder who is sporting a 31-2-0 win-loss-draw record with 10 knockouts, said. “And this will probably be my toughest fight.”

“It is very important for me to win this fight. Not only for myself and my family and country but also for ALA Promotions who believed in me,” Melindo (36-2-0, 13KOs), the defending who aspire for a long championship reign, said.

Melindo added: “I want to be like Donnie Nietes who is ALA Promotions flagship fighter. I want to give happiness to Sir ALA [Antonio Aldeguer] who believed in me for so many years until now. And also I want to give honor to my coach Edito Villamor. We have partnered for a long time so hopefully I can give honor to him as well.”

Both Melindo and Budler expect a great fight come Saturday and refused to predict any knockouts.

“Budler being a slugger is advantageous to both of us,” Melindo said. “It is to his advantage because that is his style. It is also to my advantage because that's a style that I like as a counterpuncher. But most important, it is to the advantage of the fans because they will see a great fight.”

“I just have to do a fight on the level that people expect,” Budler said. I believe we can. We both want to win. We both can make this fight into a war that people will enjoy watching. We're going to put up a hell of a fight.”

Hekkie Budler (L) with his trainer Colin Nathan.

Budler's trainer Colin Nathan also underscored the importance this fight for South Africa. “This fight is very important to our country,” Nathan said. “You know there are the top four [boxing organizations] WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF. Currently we have only Zolani Tete as the WBO champion. Again, as I've said during the day that we've arrived, we came here for one thing and one thing only and that's to win. Nothing more and nothing less.”

For his part, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said: “Hekkie [Budler] is a great fighter. This will be a tough fight for Milan [Melindo]. It's a 50-50 fight.”

Both are well-prepared, both are relaxed, both are ready for war and both are determined to win. Milan Melindo, the defending champion, and Hekkie Budler, the challenger, for the IBF world junior flyweight belt, this Saturday a the Waterfront Hotel & Casino. Though there were no fireworks or trashtalks during the run up the this fight, can't wait for it to begin.